Margaret Helen McGill born on 10 March 1895 in Minnedosa, Manitoba. Diptheria – mild attack in October 1910 with a good recovery. Operation for acute mastoiditis (right ear) in 1913, also with a good recovery. She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing 1913 and later accepted a position as staff nurse at Winnipeg General Hospital. Subject to Tonsillitis previous to Tonsillectomy, January 1915.
Her brother Major Harold Wigmore McGill MC served with the 31st Battalion and later with No.5 Canadian Field Ambulance. In addition, Margaret’s sister Frances Gertrude McGill, the provincial bacteriologist and pathologist in Saskatchewan. Finally, her father, Herbert L McGill resided at 481-19th Ave West, Vancouver, B.C. and Helen residing at 206 Wilson Lodge, Regina, Saskatchewan.
Attestation
On 8 February 1915, Margaret travelled overseas and later enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) at Netheravon on 27 February 1915. Re-attested at Le Treport, France on 16 October 1915, at this time, Margaret was 30 years and 7 months old, standing 5′ 4″ tall, 120 pounds, with dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair, scar of old mastoid operation on right side.
France
Nursing Sister Margaret Helen McGill joined No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport on 18 May 1915.
Nursing Sister McGill granted 10 days leave on 21 February 1916, later returning to her unit on 4 March 1916. Nursing Sister Margaret Helen McGill granted 14 days leave on 10 December 1916, later returning to her unit on 31 December 1916.
Nursing Sister Margaret Helen McGill reposted to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station on 29 July 1917.
No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station
Organized in Toronto in February 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel George Septimus Rennie. Firstly, among the recruits there were 22 recent medical graduates, two dental graduates and 17 medical students in their fourth or fifth year of study. “This was shown to be inadvisable since, (a) within one month after landing in England, all the graduates were given commissions in the RAMC, (b) the remaining students were returned to Canada to finish their course after being with the unit about six months.”
Left Halifax 18 April 1915 aboard NORTHLAND, and later arrived in England 29 April 1915 with a strength of 8 officers, 75 other ranks. At Moore Barracks Military Hospital, Shorncliffe, and later arrived in France on 17 September 1915. Finally, ceased operations, 7 February 1919, and demobilized at Toronto in April 1919.
Then, Nursing Sister Margaret Helen McGill transferred on 5 August 1917 to No.4 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station where she worked with Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Willis Prowse, a physician from Winnipeg, who was in charge of the CCS.
No. 4 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station
Organized in Winnipeg in March 1916 by the Manitoba Medical College. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Willis Prowse, and later left Halifax, 20 June 1916 aboard MISSANABIE. Then, arrived in England 28 June 1916 with a strength of 8 officers, 76 other ranks. At Princess Patricia’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Ramsgate, 15 January – 1 June 1917, and later arrived in France on 2 June 1917. Finally, ceased operations 3 April 1919.
Granted 14 days leave on 22 December 1917, returning to her unit on 2 January 1918.
Abbeville
Nursing Sister Margaret Helen McGill proceeded to Nurses Home, Abbeville on 1 September 1918, later returning to her unit on 9 September 1918.
S.o.S. on reporting to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital on 22 September 1918.
No. 2 Canadian General Hospital
Organized at Valcartier in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Whiteside Bridges. Left Quebec 30 September 1914 aboard FRANCONIA and VIRGINIAN, and later arrived in England on 15 October 1914., with a strength of 25 officers, 136 other ranks. Finally, arrived in France 14 March 1915, and in Le Tréport, March 1915 – 2 March 1919.
NS McGill granted 14 days leave on 12 October 1918, later returning to her unit on 26 October 1918.
Demobilization
Nursing Sister Margaret Helen McGill S.o.S. of No.2 Canadian General Hospital and then posted to CAMC Casualty Company, Shorncliffe on 12 February 1919.
S.o.S. on proceeding to London for embarkation from Eastbourne on 2 March 1918. Her final medical examination noting a deflected nasal septum and chronic Rhinitis, aggravated by service, and then embarked 12 March 1991 as per RMS BALTIC from Liverpool, arriving in Halifax.
In March 1919, Margaret returned to Canada, moving to 415 17th Street, Brandon, Manitoba. T.o.S. No. 10 M.M.H. on 15 April 1919, and later taking a leave of absence on 14 June 1920. Finally, transferred to the No.10 Depot General List on 1 July 1920., and S.o.S. on Demobilization, 15 December 1920.
Later Career
Transportation issued to San Diego on 6 December 1920, and later in 1921, Margaret involved in private duty nursing in San Diego, California. Then in 1922, she relocated to Arizona where she was involved in public health nursing and that same year accepted a position on staff of the Public Health Department in Saskatchewan. Between 1925-1943, she was a Health Nurse at the Saskatchewan Normal School in Saskatoon before retiring to Vancouver in 1943.
Margaret passed away in Vancouver on 1 August 1976.
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